It's a long fall from Mars...

Meet Xemos Heck; he's lithe, three-fingered and always found in a bio-suit.

He's also the proud owner of Cydonia, New Utonia's premier quasi-legal resort, arena, boudoir, bar, dance-hall and all-round entertainment complex.

If it's an experience you want to have have resonating in your cerebral cortex for the next few months then come and enjoy the best that modern technology has to offer.

Xemos is the best of hosts, his distractions carry the course form digital and analog, for both meat and machine.

Of course there's a lot of talk that this little green man is actually from Mars, but don't pay too much heed. There's talk around that he started that rumour himself...

Character Concept Art - Cougar

Callia Fernandez (COUGAR):

A bounty hunter so attractive - her prey seeks her out. Cougar is an indentured operative, collaring or killing her targets to repay her creators and to finance her search for her true past.

Genetech refined Cougar's abilities and raised her after her parents were assassinated. Cougar owes her existence to Genetech, but not in the way she believes. Either with long-range rifle or close range combat and camouflage abilities; she is ruthless and efficient.

She will stalk her prey and bring them down by hand or claw.
Tooth and Nail.

Character Concept Art - Commander Gaunt

Commander James Gaunt

Gaunt's one true love is the law.
Flawed though she may be, Gaunt sees salvation in the arms of law and order.

Gaunt's efforts have led to the survival of the human species and the continued existence of Utonia. All opposition will be brought to justice or destroyed - especially the under-cities.

He has struggled too long to let anyone hurt his city.
Anyone.

Character Concept Art - Sewer King

Sewer King

Seward is a determined and intelligent black man who has had to fight hard to survive the fight pits of New Utonia. He is an ECO operative, occasional hit man, leader and hero. Seward Othello King is referred to, as 'SEWER KING' -it is a nickname of grudging respect.

Seward is in excellent physical condition. Standing at almost two and a half metres tall; bio-enhanced tissue; dermal regenerative scale; accelerated speed and reflexes; heightened perception of both body and mind; he is not to be taken lightly. Seward's strength, endurance, physical and mental constitution have been advanced by Utonian and Pure Earth technology.

His parents were designers and researchers in the early days of New Utonia who abdicated to form Pure Earth. Their belief in the use of cybernetic technology went against the organic purism that swept through the Pure Earth colonies, hence they were banished. Upon returning to New Utonia, the King family settled in the lower factory areas of the city known as "The Mill".

Seward's parents continued to enhance their son's form to give him the best chance to survive the dangerous and toxic environment. After his parents had completed their work, the illegal medical clinics they had formed in the Mill were raided and shut down by Cyber-Swat. In the conflict that ensued Seward's parents were killed, and he was taken into custody for trial and public execution.

Upon the point of lethal injection, Seward's enhancements fully activated under the stress of near-death. From that point on Seward became a dark hero -surviving the death sentence he was entered into the gladiator fights for public entertainment. There his skills, reputation, contacts and fortune grew.

His mode of dress is sixties Harlem in the 22nd Century: matt black long sleeved t-shirt, bands and jewellery around the neck and wrists. Draped in black suit pants with pattern leg stripe and trim in rusty hue, thick black trench jacket with African circuitry patterns in white and deep green.

Seward is regularly attired in the height of style and intimidation.

The T-shirt I wanted to wear

On the night of the exhibition (which feels like years ago now) I was hoping to wear this on my torso. I'd ordered it from RedBubble but the poor thing had too far to travel in time. Still it was a good excuse to see how it turned out and made a good present.

Online for your perusal...

Well the comic preview has been submitted and on display at my end of year exhibition at college.
The opening went well with a decent turn out of people (out of the corner of my eye I kept checking to see if they were browsing through the comic).

As a companion to the exhibition I posted the website online. It's not only the comic but also an early indication of where I would like Interactive Comics to lead into. Regardless of my dreams for a mash-up between Comics an Animation, I though it best to share the site with everyone.

You'll find it at: http://art.tafe.vu.edu.au/sbreese/judas/

From here on I'll be posting some of the production art (as promised) but also hunting for funding.
The next part of the script is also being edited and re-edited and should be ready for illustrating in January. Wish me luck, and if anyone knows a patron who wants to support a new form of art I'm right here waiting...

Cheers!

Next up, Production Sketches!

Suce, shown here in a black and white inked sketch; is just one of the characters of the Judas Khemical story. In the next few blogs I'll cover some of the process behind going from rough pencil sketch to finished art. But for now I'll leave you with the delectable Suce.

Demonic in appearance, but canny enough in the cut and trade of the world that she could probably beat the Devil in the Soul Trade. Behind every stranded Alien and underground empire there's a brilliant and beautiful woman.